BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
ROMA — Frank Villanueva was not afforded the luxury of a full offseason when he was selected to be the Gladiators’ new head coach in July 2017.
While going 1-9 and finishing in a three-way tie for last place isn’t ideal for someone leading a varsity program for the first time, having a normal offseason is already one of the biggest pluses for Villanueva and the program overall heading into the 2018 season.
“Being able to set up enough time for an offseason that can benefit the kids that we already have is huge,” Villanueva said. “It’s not easy to keep the kids motivated after a 1-9 season, but it’s important that we do that.”
With a full offseason, a program can properly evaluate any glaring weaknesses and make attempts to improve on those weaknesses.
So Villanueva in January hired David Porras, formerly at Valley View, as the Gladiators’ new offensive coordinator. Porras is a native of Rio Grande City.
“When I found out about the opening here, I called coach (Villanueva) and we had started talking back and forth,” Porras said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to be closer to my family, but also professionally.”
Porras served as a special teams coordinator, offensive line coach and defensive coordinator at Valley View for three seasons. He also spent time as a seventh grade B team offensive football coach at Grulla Middle School.
The Gladiators needed to upgrade their offense after finishing fifth in total rushing yards (1,411) and sixth in passing yards (806) out of the six Valley teams in District 31-5A last season.
“One of the things I said to our coaching staff when I got here was that we have to be able to spread the ball to more athletes,” Porras said. “Being run-oriented and slowing the game down with our defense is what the program has been known for. We’re going to try to be around 70 percent running the ball and 30 percent passing. If we get our passing game rolling, then that can certainly change things up a bit.”
Villanueva added more experience to his staff by hiring former Zapata head coach and athletic coordinator Mario Arce to help with the Gladiators’ offensive line. These changes have made a believer out of senior running back Felix Gomez.
“The confidence that we had from our sophomore year wasn’t there my junior year,” Gomez said. “We weren’t really focused when we practiced, but now I think we’ve got the confidence back.”
After running for more than 900 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore, Gomez ran for 450 yards and didn’t get into the end zone at all in 2017.
Porras suggested Gomez can easily break the 1,000-yard mark this season.
“He’s right,” Gomez said. “I believe I have the potential to do that. I’m a patient runner. Coach Arce has really spread out our offensive line so far, and I’ve seen the holes open a lot more.”
Porras’ time coaching in District 31-5A will translate well to competition in the new District 16-5A Division II.
“I think that was another thing that coach Villanueva liked about bringing me here,” Porras said. “I already know what the Sharyland Highs, the Pioneers and Valley Views are going to run. I know Edcouch-Elsa (Oct. 26) and Mercedes (Nov. 9) are new, but they’re late enough on our schedule that we’ll have enough film on them before we play them.”
THROWN INTO THE FIRE
Jonathan Rios had not played quarterback since his freshman year. As soon as Jesus Villarreal was no longer a part of the team, the converted linebacker was called on to lead the Gladiators offense.
“It was completely unexpected,” Rios said. “They called me up to varsity as a linebacker first, and all of a sudden, I had about a week to learn all my plays (as quarterback).”
Rios completed 32 percent of his 78 passing attempts for 236 yards, two touchdowns and eight interceptions in five games last season, but he did have a few moments running the ball. Rios ran for one of his two touchdowns on the season in Roma’s 21-17 win at Laredo Cigarroa last Nov. 3.
“Winning that game in the fourth quarter on the road was huge,” Rios said. “But I feel even better now about our offense. The best thing about it is I’m getting a lot more practice with the plays than I did last year.”
“He now feels more comfortable in the pocket than he ever did,” Villanueva said. “That can only be a good thing for us.”
GOTTA HEAR BOTH SIDES
Roma’s offense may have needed some fine-tuning in 2017, but its defense did not. The Gladiators allowed the third-lowest passing yardage total (1,286) in a district in which three teams (Mission Veterans, Rio Grande City, Sharyland Pioneer) featured quarterbacks who threw for at least 1,700 yards last season.
David Rios was a big reason for that success, notching 107 tackles and seven sacks on his way to making the all-district first team as a junior. Rios made the district’s first team alongside defensive lineman Elder Manuel and safety Frankie Villanueva. Manuel and Villanueva have since graduated.
“It’s been good leading the defense,” Rios said. “We have more younger guys, but we still have to do what we need to. We’ve all been getting together and building good chemistry. We’re just playing together and having fun.”
Once again, Jonathan Rios won’t be the only Rios taking snaps out of the Gladiators backfield. David Rios ran the ball 34 times for 273 yards and three touchdowns.
“We’re going to have our best football players on the field as much as we can,” Villanueva said. “He (David) is one of them, so he knows what to expect.”
“My understanding of the game has gotten much bigger,” David Rios said. “I understand everyone else’s responsibilities and gaps, so now I know where I have to be when I have to be there.”
ROMA’S KEYS TO THE SEASON
The Gladiators are hoping the additions to their offensive staff can reinstall a productive running game after taking a step back last season. While the players appear to have the right attitude, ultimately, the rushing attack will determine this team’s altitude.
2017 record: 1-9
Returning starters O/D: 6/6
COACH’S TENURE
Coach: Frank Villanueva
Year at school: 2nd
Record: 1-9